Lazarus Eze

Nigeria

Lazarus Eze is a public health physician, health policy advocate and youth development consultant. He studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and graduated with the Medical Student Prize. He had his graduate studies in public health and global health at the University of Kentucky where he graduated with distinctions and received awards for exceeding expectation of his degree program. He has more than 7 years’ cumulative experience in health advocacy; with clinical and programmatic experiences in prevention and management of communicable and non-communicable diseases. He presently works with the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), a prominent non-profit organization in Nigeria where he, among other things, leads the Global Fund support to the Malaria Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in 5 Nigerian states. In October 2013, he initiated the use of the hashtag #BeatMalaria to create awareness and share resources on Malaria prevention and management. He has also granted multiple interviews on social media, newspapers and radio where he advocated demonstration of stronger political commitment by government at all levels to eliminate malaria in Africa. In recognition of his selfless efforts in this regard, he was made a made a Brand Ambassador of Social Good Nigeria in October 2014. Laz, as fondly called by friends, has demonstrated strong passion for health. While he was a medical student, he founded a student club known as HIV/AIDS Prevention Promotion Youth (HAPPY) Club. Under his leadership, membership of the club grew from seven to seventy four within two years; several activities aimed at educating the students on HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health issues were carried out. The club has grown to become HAPPYNigeria – a youth-led NGO that inspires young Nigerians to advocate, initiate and implement health development activities in their communities. He also led 5 other student organizations including the Federation of African Medical Students Associations (FAMSA). Furthermore, he has delivered speeches at multiple conferences within and outside Nigeria, trained hundreds of young people as peer educators on HIV/AIDS, adolescent health and malaria, built capacity of community health workers on improved service delivery and led popular health advocacy campaigns using social media. He was recently acknowledged by the United Nations (UN) for his contributions to the making of the World Youth Reports on Migration 2013. His global health activities have attracted multiple awards to him including the recognition as Global Health Learning Opportunities (GHLO) Ambassador by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Laz is an alumnus of Young People We Care (YPWC) and Clinton Global Initiative University (2013). He is a co-host of #TalkHealth9ja – a weekly radio show that potentially reaches more than 2 million people with public health information. He leads a team of 54 youth advocating on WSRHR issues in Nigeria using hashtag #Choice4Life on social media.

Comments